IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Volume: 03 Issue: 05 | May-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 606
REMEDIES OVER THE OBSTACLES IN IMPLEMENTING
AUTOMATION IN INDIAN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

Akash S. Tambi
1
, Atul R. Kolhe
2
, Upendra Saharkar
3

1
M.E. (Construction and Management) Pursuing, Civil Department, Dr. D.Y.Patil Institute of Engineering and
Technology, Ambi, Talegaon, Pune, Maharashtra, India
2
Head of the Department, Civil Department, Dr.D.Y.Patil School of Engineering, Lohagaon, Pune, Maharashtra,
India
3
P.G. Coordinator, Civil Department, Dr. D.Y.Patil Institute of Engineering and Technology, Ambi, Talegaon, Pune,
Maharashtra, India

Abstract
Infrastructure project requires more number of skilled labour, good quality of work, increases productivity etc. for this purpose
we use automation technologies. The construction industry is labour intensive and construction work is conducted in dangerous
and risky situation. So, we have to use different automation technology. There are so many obstacles while implementing
automation technologies. Some of them are high cost of automation technologies, maintenance and operating cost, skilled worker,
knowledge about automation to worker, availability of technologies etc. The automation technologies are so expensive and has
greater obstacles to implement cost of automation is the major factor whether to consider or not, technology for the construction
work. These technologies are not easily accepted by worker because of less knowledge about automation. This paper describes the
remedies over the obstacles in implementing automation technologies.

Keywords: Automation, Advantages, Obstacles, Remedies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------***----------------------------------------------------------------------
1. INTRODUCTION
Infrastructure project is growing very largely in India. For
this we have to implement automation technologies to
increase the productivity, safety, quality etc. The unskilled
human resources are unable to give good quality of work as
compared to automated technology.

Automation can be defined as appropriate use of machines,
electronic devices and computer software for the
construction work to increase the productivity of
construction project, reduces the duration and laborious
work, and increases the construction safety.

Automation of construction activities has always been
challenging. The key challenge arises from the fact that
construction unlike manufacturing is usually done in an
unstructured fashion. Automation technology available has
not been adequate to meet the needs of such unstructured
environment. In India, automation technology is less
adopted as compared to other countries. In developed
countries such as Japan, Germany the use of automation,
developing the techniques and implementing automation are
as good as compared to developing countries such as India
and China. In this paper, the main objective is to discuss the
obstacles and remedies over the obstacles while
implementing automation technologies in Indian
infrastructure projects.




2. ADVANTAGES OF AUTOMATION
The project success from the project managements
viewpoint is achieved when the project is completed with
the lowest possible cost, the highest quality, no accidents
etc. In other words, success means bringing each of the
project performance indicator (PPI) such as cost, schedule,
quality, safety, labour, productivity, material consumption
or waste, etc. to an optimum values.

The advantages of automation in infrastructure projects are
as follows:
i. Higher safety for both worker and public through
developing and deploying machines for dangerous
jobs.
ii. Uniform quality with higher accuracy than that
provided by skilled worker.
iii. Improving work environment as conventional
manual work is reduced to minimum, so the
workers are relieved from uncomfortable work
positions.
iv. Eliminating complains about noise and dust
concerning works such as removal, cleaning or
preparation of surfaces.
v. Increasing productivity and work efficiency with
reduced costs.

3. OBSTACLES
The obstacles while implementing automation technologies
in Indian infrastructure projects are as follows:-

IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Volume: 03 Issue: 05 | May-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 607
3.1 High Cost
The cost of automation technology is so high to implement.
In infrastructure projects, cost consideration should include
the purchasing cost. Due to high cost very less users use the
automation technology.

3.2 Limited Resource Available to Small and
Medium Size Firms:
For small and medium size firm limited resource should be
available. The funding available is less for the small and
medium size firm.

3.3 Automation Technologies are Expensive to
Update and Maintain
Cost consideration should include not only the purchasing
cost, but also the maintaining the automation technologies.
These techniques are so expensive to update and maintain
the progress of automation techniques.

3.4 Automation Technologies are Unavailable
Locally or Difficult to Acquire
Implementation of automation may be a problem if the
technology is not readily available commercially or is
difficult to acquire because of some restrictions or other.

3.5 Low Technological Knowledge to Workers
This is the main obstacle during implementing automation
technology. There are so many unskilled labor in India.
They have no knowledge about automation technology.

4. REMEDIES
Remedies over the obstacles while implementing
automation technologies in Indian infrastructure projects are
as follows

4.1 Remedies over High Cost:
The high cost is main obstacles in implementing automation.
The automation technology is so expensive. The
infrastructure construction company should apply the
automation technology for greater productivity and good
quality of work. The company should take loan from World
Bank at low interest to implement the automation
technology. Indian Infrastructure Company should take loan
from World Bank and Reserve Bank of India at low interest
to proper implementation of automation technology.
Government incentives should be given to contractors,
builders and infrastructure companies for using innovative
approaches to construction.

4.2 Remedies over Limited Resource Available to
Small and Medium Size Firms
For small and medium size firms the resource should be
available for using automation technology is less. The funds
available for implementing automation technology are less
as compared to big construction companies. To overcome
from improper funding companies should tie up to other
companies to implement automation technology. They
should form joint ventures to purchase the automated
technologies and use this automated technology together.

4.3 Remedies over Automation Technologies are
Expensive to Update and Maintain
The remedies over automation technologies to update and
maintain are getting loan from World Bank and the
automation should be properly used and maintained. The
automation technology should be updated and maintained tie
to time for proper working operation. It should increases the
productivity of machines or project.

4.4 Remedies over Automation Technologies are
Unavailable Locally or Difficult to Acquire
The automation technologies are unavailable locally or
difficult to acquire, the company should get in joint ventures
with company uses this automated technologies and get the
technology from somewhere else.

4.5 Remedies over low technological knowledge to
workers
The technologies are not as easily accepted by worker. They
have no knowledge about automation technologies.
Considering the re-training of construction workers, to
supervise maintain and programmed the technologies are not
seen as a way to replace the worker. The training can be
incorporated through a set of necessary upgrading skills for
semi-skilled worker or through seminars and workshops.
Change in education and training of construction
professionals, this is relevant if there is to be increased
understanding of the technologies in the industry and on the
worksites.

5. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
As the main objective of this paper is to state remedies over
the obstacles in implementing automation technologies in
Indian Infrastructure Projects and Construction Firms.
Remedies over different obstacles are seen above. Small and
medium size firms are encouraging to adopt automation
technologies. They give information or training to labour to
operate automation technologies. The funding on loan
should be available from World Bank and Reserve Bank of
India at low interest rate to implement new innovative
technology in construction and infrastructure projects.

REFERENCES
[1]. K. Sandeep Kumar, Advanced Construction and
Building Technology: Automation, Robotics, Services.
(International Journal of Advance Scientific Research and
Technology) pg.277-285. (April 2012).
IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Volume: 03 Issue: 05 | May-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 608
[2]. Matt M. Hewitt and John A. Gambatese, Automation
Consideration during Project Design. Proceeding of
International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in
Construction, Washington D.C. 2002.
[3]. Li-Ren Yang and James T. Oconnor, Assessment of
Automation and Integration Technologys Impacts on
Project Stakeholder success. Automation in Construction 16
(2007) 725-733.
[4]. Shinko Research Co. Ltd, Automation of Building
Construction and Building Product Industry- State of Art in
Japan. Dec.18 2007.
[5]. Thomas Bock, Hybrid Construction Automation and
Robotics, International Symposium on Automation and
Robotics in Construction 2007 India.
[6]. S.M.S. Elattar, Automation and Robotics in
Construction, Opportunities and Challenges (Emirates
Journal for Engineering Research) (2008), Vol. 13(2),p. 21-
26
[7]. Mohan Ramanathan, Concept to Position and Enhance
Automation Technologies in Emerging Construction
Markets (International Symposium on Automation and
Robotics in Construction 2007) p. 11-16

BIOGRAPHIES
Akash Santosh Tambi was born in 1990 in
Amravati District, Maharashtra. He received
his Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Civil
Engineering from Prof. Ram Meghe
Institute of Technology and Research
Centre, Amravati University in 2012. He
has pursuing his Masters Degree in Construction and
Management from Dr. D.Y. Patil Institute of Engineering
and Technology, Ambi, Pune, University.